Google Street View has virtual tour inside Japan nuclear zone

Google's camera-equipped vehicle moves through Namie in a photo released on March 27, 2013 and taken earlier in the month. (Google/AP/NBC)

(NBC) -- Crumpled homes, abandoned shops, empty streets. The town of Namie has lain virtually untouched since its residents were evacuated two years ago, following the accident at the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant.

On Wednesday they were able to see their town again thanks to Google, which began offering glimpses of Namie on its Street View service. The town's mayor, Tamotsu Baba, invited Google to document the current state of Namie after receiving numerous requests from constituents who wanted a reminder of their home town.